Connector hub and modular work system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10034539-B2
Application number	US-201615255451-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Sep 25, 2013
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A connector hub assembly usable as a standalone module or as a component in a work space system. The connector hub assembly optionally includes features for connecting one or more arms of a support frame for supporting a modular workspace system including desk space, cabinet space, view screens, electronic equipment, and/or other workspace system components.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A crown connector module comprising:
a crown base including a support hub, the support hub including a plurality of attachment features that are radially offset from a central axis of the support hub;
a first connector including a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, the first connector being adapted to be secured to any one of the plurality of attachment features of the support hub; and
a plurality of individually removable gap members, each removable gap member including a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, and being adapted to be received by any one of the plurality of attachment features of the support hub,
wherein any of the first and second sides of the removable gap members are adapted to interface with any of the first and second sides of any adjacently situated gap members and any of the first and second sides of any adjacently situated first connectors, and wherein a first gap member and a second gap member of the plurality of individually removable gap members are received by adjacently situated attachment features such that the first and second gap members are situated adjacent to and partially overlap one another.

2. The crown connector module of claim 1 , wherein a first attachment feature of the plurality of attachment features of the support hub includes slotted portion, the slotted portion configured to accommodate a connector coupling feature for coupling the first connector to the crown base and a gap member coupling feature for coupling the gap member to the crown base.

3. The crown connector module of claim 1 , wherein a first attachment feature of the plurality of attachment features of the support hub includes a slotted portion, the slotted portion including a threaded portion, the threaded portion configured to threadably receive a connector coupling feature for coupling the first connector to the crown base and the threaded portion configured to slidably receive any one of the plurality of individually removable gap members for coupling a received gap member to the crown base.

4. The crown connector module of claim 3 , wherein each gap member of the plurality of gap members includes a non-threaded retaining feature, and wherein the threaded portion of the first attachment feature is configured to slidably receive the non-threaded retaining feature of any of the plurality of gap members.

5. The crown connector module of claim 4 , wherein when received by the first attachment feature a received gap member is constrained against radially translating relative to the first attachment member.

6. The crown connector module of claim 3 , wherein the slotted portion extends along and is radially offset from a central axis of the support hub.

7. The crown connector module of claim 1 , wherein each attachment feature of the plurality of attachment features is spaced from an adjacent one of the plurality of attachment features at a regular angular offset.

8. A modular work system comprising:
a connector module transitionable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the connector module including:
a crown base including a support hub, the support hub having a first attachment feature that is radially offset from a central axis of the support hub and a second attachment feature that is radially offset from a central axis of the support hub and adjacent the first attachment feature;
a first connector including a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, the first connector being adapted to be secured to either of the first attachment feature or the second attachment feature of the support hub; and
a plurality of individually removable gap members, each removable gap member including a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, and being adapted to be received either of the first attachment feature or the second attachment feature of the support hub; and
wherein in the first configuration the first connector is secured to the first attachment feature and a first one of the plurality of individually removable gap members is secured to the second attachment feature such that the first side of the first connector overlaps with the second side of the first one of the plurality of individually removable gap members, and wherein in the second configuration the first connector is secured to the second attachment feature and the first one of the plurality of individually removable gap members is secured to the first attachment feature such that the second side of the first connector overlaps with the first side of the first one of the plurality of individually removable gap members.

9. The modular work system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second attachment features of the support hub each include a slotted portion, the slotted portion of the first and second attachment features being configured to accommodate a connector coupling feature for coupling the first connector to the crown base and a gap member coupling feature for coupling a received gap member to the crown base.

10. The crown connector module of claim 8 , wherein the first and second attachment features of the support hub each include a slotted portion, the slotted portion of the first and second attachment features including a threaded portion configured to threadably receive a connector coupling feature for coupling the first connector to the crown base and configured to slidably receive any one of the plurality of individually removable gap members for coupling a received gap member to the crown base.

11. The crown connector module of claim 10 , wherein each gap member of the plurality of gap members includes a non-threaded retaining feature, and wherein the threaded portion of each of the first and second attachment features is configured to slidably receive the non-threaded retaining feature of any of the plurality of gap members.

12. The modular work system of claim 11 , wherein in the first configuration the first one of the plurality of individually removable gap members is slidably received by the second attachment feature and constrained against radially translating away from the second attachment member, and wherein in the second configuration the first one of the plurality of individually removable gap members is slidably received by the first attachment feature and constrained against radially translating away from the first attachment member.

13. The modular work system of claim 10 , wherein the slotted portion extends along and is radially offset from a central axis of the support hub.

14. The crown connector module of claim 8 , wherein the support hub includes a plurality of regular angular offsets, and wherein the first attachment feature is positioned at a first angular offset of the plurality of regular angular offsets and the second attachment feature is positioned at a second angular offset of the plurality of regular angular offsets, the first and second angular offsets being adjacent to one another.

15. The crown connector module of claim 8 , wherein the first connector is securable against radial and axial translation relative to the support hub in each of the first and second configurations, and wherein the first one of the plurality of individually removable gap members is unconstrained against axial translation relative to the support hub in each of the first and second configurations.

16. A crown connector module comprising:
a crown base including a support hub, the support hub including a plurality of attachment features;
a first connector adapted to be secured to any one of the plurality of attachment features of the support hub;

Assignees

• Hni Techologies Inc
• Hni Tech Inc

Inventors

• Steelman Derek
• Birr Daniel
• Bazal Kelly
• Trieu Paul
• Bakker Mitchell R
• Raven Zachary
• Danis Cara
• Aschbrenner Evan
• Youngdahl Karl

Classifications

• F16B12/44

  Leg joints; Corner joints · CPC title

• A47B2021/066

  with power or communication connection interface · CPC title

• A47B21/06

  characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables · CPC title

• Y10T403/55

  Member ends joined by inserted section · CPC title

• A47B2200/008

  Tables or desks having means for applying electronic or electric devices · CPC title